Self locking flexible grommet



w, H. MOORHEAD SELF, LOCKING FLEXIBLE GRbumEr Original Filed June '21,1954 Feb. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 'mmvr on WALTER H. MO ORHEAD'ATTOR'NEY F 1953 w. H. MOORHEAD. Re. 24,438

' SELF LQCKING FLEXIBLE GROMMET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 21;1954 INVENTOR. WALTER H MOORHEAD BY ATTORNEY United States Patent SELFLOCKING FLEXIBLE GROMMET Walter H. Moorhead, Richmond Heights, Ohiooriginal No. 2,707,723, dated May 3, 1955, Serial No. 438,286, June 21,1954. Application for reissue May 1, 1957, Serial No. 657,470

6 Claims. (Cl. 174-153) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

"'This invention relates to improvements in flexible grommets and is acontinuation in part of my invention disclosed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 177,150, for Flexible Grommet, filed August 2,1950, now Patent No. 2,690,470, issued September 28, 1954, and has forone of. its primary objects to provide a simple, inexpensive andeflicient grommet that is universal in its application. Another objectis to provide a grommet that may more readily be inserted and removed,with respect to the wall, or panel, which carries it, and through whichit extends, and with respect to the electric cord, or other member,which it carries and which it protects from the wall.

Another object is to provide a flexible hollow grommet with a preformedsingle end flange and a tapered body which latter may be readilyinserted through a hole in the panel, a portion of the bore of thetapered hollow body being less in diameter than the outside diameter ofthecable that passes through the grommet in place, the grommet body willnot only frictionally grip the cord and roll inwardly upon itself toform another flared end on the other side of the wall and otherwisedeform the grommet to enlarge it into a snug flt in the hole in thewall, but will also resiliently lock itself in such position againstinadvertent displacement, while allowing manual disengagement from thewall.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides inthe combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterset forth in the following specification and appended claims, certainembodiments thereof being shown in the accompanying drawings,'in which:

Figure 1 is a view in longiutdinal section taken through one form ofgrommet extending through an apertured wall member;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same type of grommet showing, in sideelevation, a cable extending through the' hollow grommet;

on itself to develop a second grommet head and resiliently locked insuch position by reason of an external flange near the small endengaging an internal groove in the grommet body;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another form of grommetemploying only an external flange, and not an internal groove;

. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the small end of thegrommet of Figure 4 developed into a second head and locked;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 4, of another form ofgrommet employing only an internal groove and not an external flange;

"Figure 7 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 5, showing Re. 24,438Reissued Feb. 25, 19 58 the grommet of Figure 6 developed into a secondhead, and locked;

Figure 8 is a view, generally similar to Figure 2, showing a modifiedform of my invention, in which I employ a grommet with a preformedflared head having a con-- cave side to oppose the wall member and alsoadditionalexternal flanges on the main body portion of the grommet toeffect, not only a resilient locking arrangement, but also additionaleternal flanges on the main body portion of the grommet adjacentthesmall endthereof for assisting the locking arrangement and thegripping of. the cord embraced by the grommet; t 1. Figure 9 is a viewgenerally similar to Figure 8, 'show-. ing the form of grommet shown inFigure 8 when rolled in to form the second grommet head and locked, asshown in Figures 3, 5 and 7; and

Figure 10 is a view in section taken .along line 10.10 of Figure 8. Inmy aforesaid copending application I have disclosed a hollow grommetmade of flexible deformable material, such as rubber, or the like, witha single preformed flared head to abut the outer surface of an aperturedwall member, while the elongated generally conical body portion extendsloosely through the aperture. The small end of the grommet resilientlyand frictionally engages a cable, or other elongated member, in such amanner that when the preformed head is held against the outside surfaceof the wall member the small end of the grommet is rolled inwardly uponitself to form a head in snug engagement with the inside surface of thewall member.

The present invention is directed to an improvement,

thereon in the form of means builtin thelg rommetwhereby it will beself-locking in the position it assumes when the second head is formedagainst inadvertent displacement, while permitting manual unrolling forremoval of the grommet.

In the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, I employ a.

hollow grommet with a preformed flared head 1 of greater diameter thanthe aperture 2 in a wall member 3. The elongated hollow body portion 4of the grommet is generally conical and of such outside diameter toextend through the wall aperture 2. For purposes of illustration,-

I will consider the left surface, against which the head-1 abuts, as theoutside surface of the wall and the opposite, or right, surface theinside surface. The grommet hasparticular advantages in applicationwhere access may not be had to the inside surface of the wall or theinterior of a housing enclosed by the wall. The small end of the bodyportion-4 is sliown to terminate in a radially inwardly extending head 5of such inside diameter as to be less than the outside diameter of thecable, or other elongated member 6, so as to be slightly distorted as itresiliently and frictionally engages member 6, while the remainder ofmember 6 extends through thehollow bore 7 of the grommet withappreciable radial clearance.

In addition, I provide an external flange 8 near the small end of thebody portion 4 and a correspondingly shaped internal groove 9 formedapproximately midway of the length of the grommet. H

The flange 8 is of lesser outside diameter than the aperture 2. With theassembly in the position shown in Figure 2, pressure is applied to thehead 1 to maintain its position shown while the outside portion of thecableat 10. Moreover, due to the shaping and positioning of the flange 8and groove 9, the flange enters the groove,

' 3 as shown in Figure 3 to resiliently lock the two together tomaintain the head 10 against inadvertent displacement, or unrolling,while permitting the cable to be forcibly pushed, or pulled, in theopposite direction to unroll the head 10, and the grommet to be removed.

In Figure 4, I show another form of grommet in which I have the smallend terminate in an inturned lip 11. While I still employ the flange 8of Figure 2, I may elect not to employ any internal groove, such asshown at 9 in Figmre 2. Through the same physical operation, I form thesecond head and lock it by the compression of the internal surface ofthe hollow body by the flange 8, as shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 6, I have shown another form of my invention, in which Ieliminate the flange 8 of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, but retain theinternal groove 9 of Figures l to 3, inclusive. By the same physicaloperation, the new head 10 is formed and locked in position by the lip11 engaging the groove 9, as shown in Figure 7.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved grommet which hasmany advantageous features over the conventional. The conventionalflexible grommet contemplates the use of a rubber hollow ring with twopreformed flared heads and a short body therebetween. Insertion in apanel hole is difficult because each head is larger than the panel holeand calls for squeezing one head through the hole. Once inserted, thebody is invariably of less diameter than the panel hole so as to beloose and subject to inadvertent removal from the panel hole.

This is not the case in my improved grommet. The outside flared head 1does not change its appearance over the outside head of the conventionaltwo-headed grommet. My grommet is not formed by pulling it through apanel hole so as to wedge it in the hole which would result in anunsightly assembly and make removal diflicult. Such a grommet is shownin U. 5. Patent No. 2,223,153 of November 26, 1940. My grommet is merelyformed by pulling the cable to roll the body of the grommet into aninside flared head, which action also deforms the body into snugengagement with the cable and panel hole, regardless of its shape.However, my grommet is not permanently secured either to the panel northe cable. Consequently, in order to disassemble, I may merely pull orpush the cord from left to right and the resulting action is to unrollthe grommet so that the assembly assumes the position of Figures 3, and7, leaving the grommet free to be easily removed from the cable and thepanel.

Moreover, regardless of whether I employ both the flange 8 and internalgroove 9 or a flange 8, alone, or groove 9, alone, I am able not only toform the new head on the grommet against an inaccessible internalsurface, but to also make the grommet automatically selflocking in suchdistorted position against inadvertent displacement, or unrolling, whilepermitting forcible pulling, or pushing, of the cable in the otherdirection to unroll and remove the grommet from the Wall from right toleft.

While in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, I have shown preformed flaredgrommet heads 1 as having fiat sides, I have found it to be expedient toemploy preformed flared grommet heads of the type shown at 1 in Figures8 and 9. Here, the right hand side face of the grommet head adjacent thewall member 3 is concave so that when the second head is developed asshown in Figure 9, by pulling the cord 6 from right to left, a moresecure engagement of the right side of the grommet head 1' with theexternal left face of the Wall member 3 is assured, as the space 14 ofFigure 8 disappears in Figure 9.

Now, in the interest of enhancing my resilient self locking featureillustrated and described in connection with Figures 1 to 7, inclusive,I have found it to be expedient, and preferable, to employ, in additionto flange 8, whether in conjunction with head 5, or lip 11, or in 4 jthe presence, or absence of internal groove 9, additional flanges 12 and13, arranged adjacent to and to the left of the small end of the grommetbody portion 4. By reference to Figure 9, it will be apparent that whenthe preformed enlarged grommet head is held in pressure against theexternal, or left, face of wall member 3, and the cord 6 is pulled fromright to left, flange 8, due to the grommet body portion 4 being rolledinwardly upon itself while bead 5 remains in gripping relationship withcord 6, the flange 8 becomes the innermost locking element, flange 12 anintermediate locking element and flange 13 the outer end locking elementthat resiliently and frictionally engages the cord 6. I have found thatthe provision of a plurality of such external flanges, whether two, orthree or more, materially augments the resilient locking action againstinadvertent unrolling, while still permitting manual unrolling byphysically pulling the cord from left to right to restore the grommet tothe position of Figure 8 for complete removal.

I claim:

1. In combination with a wall member having an aperture therein, agrommet of flexibly deformable material formed to comprise a singlepreformed enlarged end head and an elongated hollow body portion oflesser size than said preformed enlarged end head and extending to arelatively small end portion that is lesser in outside diameter and inwall thickness to be readily insertable, without deformation, throughthe aperture in said wall member to leave said preformed single enlargedend head in abutment with one side surface of said wall member, anelongated member slidably extending through said grommet with radialclearance in said preformed enlarged end head and the greater portion ofits [tapered] elongated body portion, the smaller end portion only ofsaid grommet being in [resilient and] frictional gripping relationshipwith said elongated member due solely to the inside [diameter] of saidsmaller grommet end being normally less than the outside diameter ofsaid elongated member [body portion] whereby, upon a manual axial pullon said elongated member in a direction from the smaller end of saidgrommet toward said preformed large end head while holding the preformedenlarged end head of the grommet in place in abutment against one sidesurface of said wall member, the hollow body of said grommet, due to thegripping relationship between its smaller end with said elongated memberand the radial [annular] clearance between the main elongated hollowbody portion of said grommet and said elongated member, is rolledinwardly upon itself from said small end, progressively, toward saidpreformed large end head to form a .second enlarged grommet head on theother side of said apertured wall member opposite that of said preformedenlarged end head and the elongated grommet body portion is flexiblydeformed into snug engagement with said elongated member and said wallmember in the aperture of said wall member, the small end of saidgrommet having an external portion to engage the internal surface of thegrommet at a point in the length of the grommet adjacent the plane ofthe wall member surface opposite that engaged by the preformed grommethead when said small end is rolled inwardly on itself so as to[resiliently] lock said second grommet head in said position againstinadvertent unrolling to become displaced.

2. In combination with a wall member having an aperture therein, agrommet of flexibly deformable material formed to comprise a singlepreformed enlarged end head and an elongated hollow body portion oflesser size than said preformed enlarged end head and extending to arelatively small end portion that is lesser in outside diameter and inwall thickness to be readily insertable, without deformation, throughthe aperture in said wall member to leave said preformed single enlargedend head in abutment with one side surface of said wall member, an

elongated member slidably extending through said grommet with radialclearance in said preformed enlarged end head and the greater portion ofits [tapered] elongated body portion, the smaller end portion only ofsaid grommet being in [resilient and] frictional gripping relationshipWith said elongated member due solely to the inside [diameter] of saidsmaller grommet end being normally less than the outside diameter ofsaid elongated member [body portion], whereby, upon a manual axial pullon said elongated member in a direction from the smaller end of saidgrommet toward said preformed large end head while holding the preformedenlarged end head of the grommet in place in abutment against one sidesurface of said wall member, the hollow body of said grommet, due to thegripping relationship between its smaller end with said elongated memberand the radial [annular] clearance between the main elongated hollowbody portion of said grommet and said elongated member, is rolledinwardly upon itself from said small end, progressively, toward saidpreformed large end head to form a second enlarged grommet head on theother side of said apertured wall member opposite that of said preformedenlarged end head and the elongated grommet body portion is flexiblydeformed into snug engagement with said elongated member and said wallmember in the aperture of said wall member, the inner surface of saidgrommet having a groove disposed in a transverse plane adjacent the wallmember surface opposite that engaged by the preformed grommet head whensaid small end is rolled inwardly on itself, the small end of saidgrommet having an external portion adapted to engage said internalgroove, when said small end is so rolled inwardly on itself, as to[resiliently] lock said second grommet head in said position againstinadvertent unrolling to become displaced.

3. In combination with a wall member having an aperture therein, agrommet of flexibly deformable material formed to comprise a singlepreformed enlarged end head and an elongated hollow body portion oflesser size than said preformed enlarged end head and extending to arelatively small end portion that is lesser in outside diameter and inwall thickness to be readily insertable, without deformation, throughthe aperture in said wall member to leave said preformed single enlargedend head in abutment with one side surface of said wall member, anelongated member slidably extending through said grommet with radialclearance in said preformed enlarged end head and the greater portion ofits [tapered] elongated body portion, the smaller end portion only ofsaid grommet being in [resilient and] frictional gripping relationshipwith said elongated member due solely to the inside [diameter] of saidsmaller grommet end being normally less than the outside diameter ofsaid elongated member [body portion], whereby, upon a manual axial pullon said elongated member in a direction from the smaller end of saidgrommet toward said preformed large end head while holding the preformedenlarged end head of the grommet in place in abutment against one sidesurface of said Wall member, the hollow body of said grommet, due to thegripping relationship between its smaller end with said elongated memberand the radial [annular] clearance between the main elongated hollowbody portion of said grommet and said elongated member, is rolledinwardly upon itself from said small end, progressively, toward saidpreformed large end head to form a second enlarged grommet head on theother side of said apertured wall member opposite that of said preformedenlarged end head and the elongated grommet body portion is flexiblydeformed into snug engagement with said elongated member and said wallmember in the aperture of said wall member, the small end of saidgrommet having a plurality of external axially disposed flanges toengage the internal surface of the grommet at points in the length ofthe grommet adjacent the plane of the wall member surface opposite thatengaged by the preformed grommet head when said small end is rolledinwardly on itself and to also engage said elongated member so as to[resiliently] lock said second grommet head in said position againstinadvertent unrolling to become displaced.

4. In combination with a wall member having an aperture therein, agrommet of flexibly deformable material formed to comprise a singlepreformed enlarged end head with a concave surface and an elongatedhollow body portion of lesser size than said preformed enlarged end headand extending to a relatively small end portion that is lesser inoutside diameter and in wall thickness to be readily insertable, withoutdeformation, through the aperture in said wall member to leave theconcave surface of said preformed single enlarged end head in abutmentwith one side surface of said wall member, an elongated member slidablyextending through said grommet with radial clearance in said preformedenlarged end head the greater portion of its [tapered] elongated bodyportion, the smaller end portion only of said grommet being in[resilient and] frictional gripping relationship with said elongatedmember due solely to the inside [diameter] of said smaller grommet endbeing normally less than the outside diameter of said elongated member[body portion], whereby, upon a manual axial pull on said elongatedmember in a direction from the smaller end of said grommet toward saidpreformed large end head while holding the preformed enlarged end headof the grommet in place in abutment against one side surface of saidwall member, the hollow body of said grommet, due to the grippingrelationship between its smaller end with said elongated member and theradial [annular] clearance between the main elongated hollow bodyportion of said grommet and said elongated member, is rolled inwardlyupon itself from said small end, progressively, toward said preformedlarge end head to form a second enlarged grommet head on the other sideof said apertured wall member opposite that of said preformed enlargedend head and the elongated grommet body portion is flexibly deformedinto snug engagement with said elongated member and said wall member inthe aperture of said wall member, the inner surface of said grommethaving a groove disposed in a transverse plane adjacent the wall membersurface opposite that engaged by the preformed grommet head when saidsmall end is rolled inwardly on itself, the small end of said grommethaving a plurality of circumferential external axially spaced flangesadjacent its small end to engage said groove in the inner surface ofsaid grommet and said elongated member, when said small end is rolledinwardly on itself, so as to [resiliently] lock said second grommet headin said position against inadvertent unrolling to become displaced.

5. In combination with a wall member having an aperture therein, agrommet of flexibly deformable material for use as a means forpositioning an elongated member within the aperture in said wall member,said grommet being formed to comprise a single preformed enlarged endhead and an elongated hollow body portion of lesser size than saidpreformed enlarged end head and extending to a relatively small endportion that is lesser in outside diameter and in wall thickness to bereadily insertable, without deformation, through the aperture in saidwall member to leave said preformed single enlarged end head in abutmentwith one side surface of said wall member, said elongated memberslidably extending through said grommet with radial clearance in saidpreformed enlarged end head and the greater portion of its elongatedbody portion, the smaller end portion only of said grommet being infrictional gripping relationship with said elongated member due solelyto the inside of said smaller grommet end being normally less than theOutside diameter of said elongated member, whereby, upon a manual axialpull on said elongated member in a direction from the smaller end ofsaid grommet toward said preformed large end head while holding thepreformed enlarged end head of the grommet in place in abutment againstone side surface of said wall member, the hollow body of said grommet,due to the gripping relationship between its smaller end with saidelongated member and the radial clearance between the main elongatedhollow body portion of said grommet and said elongated member, is rolledinwardly upon itself from said small end, progressively, toward saidpreformed large end head to form a second enlarged grommet head on thether side of said apertured wall member opposite that of said preformedenlarged end head and the elongated grommet body portion is flexiblydeformed into snug engagement with said elongated member and said wallmember in the aperture of said wall member, the small end of saidgrommet having an external p rtion to engage the internal surface of thegrommet at a point in the length of the grommet adjacent the plane ofthe wall member surface opposite that engaged by the preformed grommethead when said small end is rolled inwardly on itself so as to lock saidsecond grommet head in said position against inadvertent unrolling tobec me displaced.

6. In combination with a wall member having an aperture therein, agrommet of flexibly deformable material for use as a means forpositioning an elongated member within the aperture in said wall member,said grommet being formed to comprise a single preformed enlarged endhead with a concave surface and an elongated hollow body portion oflesser size than said preformed enlarged end head and extending to arelatively small end portion that is lesser in outside diameter and inwall thickness to be readily insertable, without deformation, throughthe aperture in said wall member to leave the concave surface of saidpreformed single enlarged end head in abutment with one side surface ofsaid wall member,

said elongated member slidably extending through said grommet withradial clearance in said preformed enlarged end head and the greaterportion of its elongated body portion, the smaller end portion only ofsaid grommet being in frictional gripping relationship with saidelongated member due solely to the inside of said smaller grommet endbeing normally less than the outside diameter of said elongated member,whereby, upon a manual axial pull on said elongated member in adirection from the smaller end of said grommet toward said preformedlarge end head while holding the preformed enlarged end head of thegrommet in place in abutment against one side surface of said wallmember, the hollow body of said grommet, due to the grippingrelationship between its smaller end with said elongated member and theradial clearance between the main el ngated hollow body portion of saidgrommet and said elongated member, is rolled inwardly upon itself fromsaid small end, progressively, toward said preformed large end head toform a second enlarged grommet head on the other side of said aperturedwall member opposite that of said preformed enlarged end head and theelongated grommet body portion is flexibly deformed into snug engagementwith said elongated member and said wall member in the aperture of saidwall member, and, at the same time, the concave surface of the singlepreformed enlarged end head is deformed into generally flush engagementwith the said one side surface of the wall member.

No references cited.

